Our Team

Elyse Aurbach is a Lecturer with the Program in Biomedical Sciences and postdoctoral fellow in Neuroscience studying depression at the University of Michigan. If she isn’t teaching or in lab obsessing over her experiments, she can be found logging in activity data on a swim or trying out an ambitious recipe from one of her favorite foodie blogs.

Brandon Patterson is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School, studying how ultrasound waves interact with the human body. When Brandon is not working on research and science communication he is actively involved in education outreach and writing a children's book.

Katherine (Katie) Prater is a postdoctoral fellow in Neurology at the University of Washington studying immune factors related to anxiety and fear behavior. When she is not sciencing with her labmates, Katie can often be found playing computer games with her husband, playing board games, or reading a good book. She also may be found playing with her “love” bird, known to some as “the destroyer of worlds.”

Alison Ludzki is a PhD student in Kinesiology studying the ways that diet and exercise can reduce insulin resistance and other metabolic diseases. She spends her time outside of lab training with the Ann Arbor Running Company, and doing science writing.

Deanna Montgomery is a PhD candidate in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan trying to develop a drug to treat cocaine addiction. Outside of lab, she can often be found writing, baking, or playing piano.

Nicholas Lesniak is a PhD candidate in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan studying how our gut bacteria protect us from disease. When not working on his research project or science communication, he enjoys woodworking and rock climbing.

Joseph (Joe) Iafrate is a PhD candidate in the Applied Physics program at the University of Michigan. He wants to understand how to use light and electric fields to control and measure electron spins in semiconductors. His favorite topics of conversation include physics, board games, Disney music, and Major League Baseball (especially the Detroit Tigers).

Stephanie Hamilton is a physics graduate student studying the orbits of the small bodies beyond Neptune in order learn more about the Solar System's formation and evolution. As an additional perk, she gets to travel the world as part of the Dark Energy Survey Collaboration. When she gets a spare minute in the midst of hectic grad school life, she likes to read sci-fi books, binge TV shows, write about her travels or new science results, or force her cat to cuddle with her.

Patricia DeLacey is a PhD student in Biological Psychology at the University of Michigan. She studies high-altitude adaptations in gelada monkeys, a species of monkeys that lives in the highlands of Ethiopia. She travels to the Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia to study a wild population of geladas. When she's not working on her research, she enjoys running in the arboretum, yoga, and exploring new hiking trails.

Ryan McCarty is a PhD student in the Joint Program in English and Education, studying the ways that individuals learn while translating between diverse language settings. He's also likes a little bit of comic books and politics in his life, along with as much time as possible bumming around with his family.

Team Alumni

Brian Worthmann is a PhD Candidate in Applied Physics at the University of Michigan studying sonar. When not working on underwater acoustics or science communication, Brian can probably be found binge watching something on Netflix.

Paula Wishart is the Academic Program Director for Professional Development at Rackham Graduate School. Wishart designs and leads programs that foster graduate students' professional development through core skill development, career awareness and job search skill development.

Leah Bricker is an Assistant Professor of Science Education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. Bricker’s research explores youth and adults’ (e.g., scientists) science-related learning across timespans, and over settings (e.g., science classrooms, museums, homes, neighborhoods, science cafes). In addition, she designs science-related artifacts and learning environments (e.g., curricula, professional development experiences), and then studies how those designs function in context, as well as studying aspects of people’s learning who are using and experiencing the designs.

Andrew Maynard is a Professor of Environmental Health Science and Director of The University of Michigan Risk Science Center. Maynard’s research focuses on emerging technologies and how they can be developed responsibly. When not grappling with the risks and benefits of everything from “gray goo” and synthetic organisms to planetary engineering and artificial intelligence, he makes YouTube videos about the the science of risk at Risk Bites, and hangs out on Twitter as @2020Science.

Katie Parzych is a PhD candidate in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan studying how cells recycle parts of themselves to survive. In addition to research, Katie enjoys teaching undergraduate biology classes and is working towards a graduate teacher certificate. When not geeking out about microbiology and yeast, Katie can usually be found acting on stage with a number of Ann Arbor’s local theatre groups.

Brooke Horton is a science writer with a Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan. Her love for all things science is outweighed only by her desire to share it with the public. When not developing carpal tunnel syndrome from furiously typing out her next piece, she can usually be found watching documentaries while bundled up with her adorable, moody Shih Tzus.

Wahida is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of rheumatology at the University of Michigan. Wahida studies environmental instigation of rheumatoid arthritis in specific genetic settings. When she is not postdocing, Wahida likes to travel, read, and walk her dog.

So'Phelia is a dual degree MPH/MSW student with the School of Public Health and the School of Social Work. So'Phelia's academic interests include the effects of discrimination, microaggressions, and racial stress on the mental and physical health of African Americans. When So'Phelia is not being studious, she enjoys reading and finding new dogs to play with.

Jimmy Brancho is a Ph. D. candidate in inorganic chemistry at the University of Michigan focused on figuring out new ways to create cheap, stable materials that put visible light to work. He spends his free time developing a science writing portfolio, seeking out new board games, and writing a very bad novel.